The Pakistan-Afghanistan One Day Internationals (ODI) series has been postponed due to the unsettling flight operations in the capital city of Afghanistan after the takeover of the Taliban in the country.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the three matches ODI series has been postponed after the two cricket boards mutually agreed to reschedule the ODI series next year. The series which was earlier slated to be played between 1-8 September is now pushed to 2022.
The development came weeks after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. At present almost every land belonging to Afghanistan is under the reign of the Taliban.
“The ACB had contacted the board on Monday evening, requesting to postpone the series for 2022 citing disruption of flight operations in Kabul, increased COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka, the mental health of their players, and non-availability of broadcast equipment,” the PCB said in a statement.
“We have worked very closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to make this series happen and were keen to play them in the inaugural bilateral series, but we understand their challenges and have, therefore, agreed to reschedule the series for 2022,” PCB director international Zakir Khan said.
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Pakistan-Afghanistan ODI series postponed after the Taliban takeover in the country.
“The PCB historically enjoys an excellent relationship with the ACB and will do everything to ensure the series is played in 2022 as it is critical for both sides in terms of direct qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023,” he added.
Although the Taliban has confirmed that there will be no hindrance in the cricketing operations in the country, there is no certainty over player’s availability. A few popular cricketers of the country have been in a fix to evacuate their families from the country.
A couple of days back, Taliban people stormed into the headquarters of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in Kabul along with a former cricketer of the country. The people were seen with loaded weapons as the picture of ACB’s conference room flooded with Taliban troops went viral over the internet.
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